Schematic Design: Information, Exploration and Collaboration

How Schematic Design Makes Designing a Home Less Overwhelming

An interior shot of a complete custom home renovation in Kingston

Designing a house is hard. There are a lot of moving parts—not just practical things like budget, structure, and zoning, but also subjective elements like taste and personal habits. Not everyone lives the same way or likes the same things (even within couples). Not every site in Kingston or the surrounding area comes with the same parameters or qualities.

So how do you design a home with so many variables?

The answer lies in a process that architects have refined for generations: Schematic Design.

What Is Schematic Design?

Schematic Design—also known as concept design—is the first formal phase of architectural design. The Canadian Handbook of Practice (CHOP) outlines this stage in detail, but at Fabricae, we focus on three key pillars:

1. Collecting as much information as possible

2. Testing and exploring ideas

3. Collaborating on solutions

This is how we help our Kingston clients design homes that feel like them—from the inside out.

Our Custom Homes Schematic Design Booklet

1. Collecting Information (No, Not Just Your Pinterest Board)

There are many ways to design a home, but we believe the best ideas come from deep listening and detailed context. That’s why we begin every project by gathering as much information as we can—from the physical site to your personal lifestyle.

We start with the practical:

• Measure and document the existing building and property

• Study the site’s orientation, sun path, views, and grade

• Review zoning bylaws, surveys, conservation and heritage constraints in Kingston and Eastern Ontario

  
  

Example of a Site Plan with Zoning Review

Then we dive into the personal. This is where our process departs from the CHOP. Because unlike planning a coffee shop, residential space planning is deeply personal.

After 15 years of designing homes in Kingston and beyond, we’ve seen that “home” means something different to everyone. Some clients arrive with a dozen Pinterest boards and plans drawn up. Others haven’t thought much about their future space at all. And that’s okay. Our job is to extract the meaningful pieces—your routines, quirks, and preferences—and help you translate them into form.

Yes, sometimes I think my job is part architect, part psychologist.

So—what’s your favourite room, and why?

2. Testing & Exploring Ideas – Design as Dialogue

There’s no one “correct” floor plan. There are, however, plans that evolve out of the unique conditions and desires of a project—and those tend to be the best ones.

Rather than force clients into prefabricated layouts, we use design as a testing ground. In the first phase, we present two to three distinct design options for your new home, addition, or renovation. Each one explores the layout in a different way—helping you understand what resonates and what doesn’t.

Example of Plans for the First Schematic Design Meeting

You don’t need to have all the answers. Most people don’t.

That’s what this phase is for.

3. Collaboration – Let’s Talk About It

We’re not just looking for feedback—we rely on it.

A consult, an intake form, and your Pinterest board give us a foundation, but only you can define what home means for you. We’re here to guide and interpret.

To get the most out of our collaboration, we divide the first design session into two parts:

1. A walkthrough the first set of designs with your initial feedback

2. A follow-up (two weeks later) where you lead the discussion after time to reflect

Architect and Intern sharing Floor Plans at Fabricae Office

By the end of that second meeting, we’ve usually uncovered the key design insights—like your dislike of walnut finishes, your lifelong dream of a baking nook, or your strong opinions on window benches.

And that’s when we’re ready to build a master plan—a design shaped by your life, your style, and your goals (within the boundaries of zoning and site conditions, of course).

Schematic Design isn’t about finding a perfect answer—it’s about uncovering the right answer for you. If you’re planning to build or renovate in Kingston or the surrounding area, we’d love to help you start the journey.

Contact us to book a consultation and begin designing a home that reflects your life.

Fabricae Home

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